How to teach moral theories in applied ethics
How to teach moral theories in applied ethics
Recent discussion has focused on whether or not to teach moral theories, and, if yes, to what extent. In this piece the author argues that the criticisms of teaching moral theories raised by Rob Lawlor should lead us to reconsider not whether but how to teach moral theories. It seems that most of the problems Lawlor identifies derive from an uncritical, theory-led approach to teaching. It is suggested that we might instead start by discussing practical cases or the desiderata of a successful moral theory, and then build up to comparing theories such as consequentialism, deontology, and so on. In this way, theories are taught but students do not take them to be the alpha and omega of moral thinking.
635-638
Saunders, B.
aed7ba9f-f519-4bbf-a554-db25b684037d
2010
Saunders, B.
aed7ba9f-f519-4bbf-a554-db25b684037d
Saunders, B.
(2010)
How to teach moral theories in applied ethics.
Journal of Medical Ethics, 36 (10), .
(doi:10.1136/jme.2009.032052).
Abstract
Recent discussion has focused on whether or not to teach moral theories, and, if yes, to what extent. In this piece the author argues that the criticisms of teaching moral theories raised by Rob Lawlor should lead us to reconsider not whether but how to teach moral theories. It seems that most of the problems Lawlor identifies derive from an uncritical, theory-led approach to teaching. It is suggested that we might instead start by discussing practical cases or the desiderata of a successful moral theory, and then build up to comparing theories such as consequentialism, deontology, and so on. In this way, theories are taught but students do not take them to be the alpha and omega of moral thinking.
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Published date: 2010
Organisations:
Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences
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Local EPrints ID: 370350
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/370350
ISSN: 1473-4257
PURE UUID: 106862e2-1909-4cde-822d-1432045ee036
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Date deposited: 22 Oct 2014 10:56
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:50
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